Approximately 3.7 mil-
lion of Colorado’s nearly six
million current residents
are under age 45, i.e. born
in 1978 or after.
man has participated in
our athletic program,” said
OSU athletics director Ed
Weaver back then.
He’s also tied for seventh
all-time in fumble recover-
ies with 13. Two of the six
ahead of him are quarter-
backs, who were preventing
turnovers when they fell on
loose balls.
Heisman, a Super Bowl,
and a collegiate national
championship, and be
inducted into both the
College and Pro Football
Halls of Fame. In the book,
he relates a game against
Gradishar in 1980:
“Trainers and doctors
came running onto the
field. They thought I was
dead. Hey, I thought I was
dead, too.”
Sixth in Heisman Trophy
voting after his senior sea-
son (and the only defensive
player among the top six),
Gradishar was drafted 14th
by the Broncos. Only two
That means about two-
thirds of today’s Colora-
dans were either too young
to appreciate Randy Grad-
ishar’s play for the Broncos
or weren’t born
yet when his
10-year career
ended in 1983.
A year later, SPORT
magazine named Gradishar
one of the five hardest hit-
ters in the NFL.
Gradishar set the NFL re-
cord for tackles with 2,049
and was renowned as one
of the league’s hardest hit-
ters. No better testimony to
that exists than an account
from Tony Dorsett in the
book The Truly Great.
“I ran a pass pattern and
was wide open, but Danny
White did not see me. I go
back to the huddle and tell
Danny that I am wide open.
His Hall-ness is a mem-
ber of the College Football
Hall of Fame, the Ohio
State Varsity O Hall of
Fame, the Broncos Ring of
Fame, the Colorado Sports
Hall of Fame and the GTE
Academic Hall of Fame,
among countless honors.
players cho-
sen ahead of
him—No. 1,
defensive end
Ed “Too Tall”
Jones, and
fifth pick John
Dutton, a de-
fensive tackle,
played more
NFL games
than his 145.
“I ran the same route
again, but this time, I
was almost decapitated.
My eyes were only par-
tially open when I hit the
ground.
In addi-
tion, an un-
determined
number of the
remaining two
million-plus
state residents
over the age of
45 were living
somewhere else
when Gradishar
terrorized op-
ponents in the
National Foot-
ball League.
Dorsett rushed for more
than 1,000 yards in a
season eight times in his
12-year career and is one of
two players ever to win the
“Too Tall”
played the
most—224,
all for Dal-
las—and was
named to three
Pro Bowls (to
Gradishar’s
seven). He played for the
Cowboys when they beat
Gradishar and the Bron-
cos in Super Bowl XII.
Nonetheless, he hasn’t
been voted into the Hall of
Fame.
Black Hawk ofers $$ to Central City for parking lot
Continued from previous page
all the council members, a
symbolic expression we do
not often do. After the Black
Hawk Council meeting on
February 14, City Manager
Cole and I will hand-deliver
the letter to Mayor Fey and
City Manager Miera.”
from the City Council of
Central.”
(Editor’s note: The Weekly
Register-Call was unable to
reach Sen. Nicholson for ad-
ditional information regarding
the future of Gilpin Senior Liv-
ing at our deadline on Tues-
day. There was no information
regarding the decision on the
organization’s website.)
Black Hawk also said it
will give a Quit Claim deed
for a 5.75-acre mining claim
near the KOA Campground
and Gold Mountain Vil-
lage Apartments in Central
City. According to the Black
Hawk letter, the lot could
be a potential site for a one
million-gallon water stor-
age tank for Central City’s
municipal water system.
“Based on Black Hawk’s
acquisition of these and
other mining claims, we
believe this land convey-
ance to Central is valued at
approximately $115,000,”
the offer said.
According to the offer,
Black Hawk would relieve
Central from cleaning and
maintaining the grizzly
screen and flume running
for the stream beneath the
Briggs lot. The city also
would agree to Central’s
architectural and light-
ing guidelines should city
leaders allow Black Hawk to
annex the property.
In addition, the lease re-
quired Senior Living to provide
proof that the buildings and the
property were insured and that
no explosive items would be
kept there.
When contacted, Fey said
he was aware of the forth-
coming offer but declined
to comment. “I can’t talk
about it. They haven’t
presented anything to [the]
council yet. Until [the]
council sees it and con-
solidates an opinion, I can’t
talk about it,” according to
Fey. “If I were going to give
an opinion on this [today],
it would disqualify me from
giving one later.”
Nicholson, who has been
pursuing senior citizen hous-
Black Hawk also said it
wouldn’t excavate any of the
land adjoining the Briggs
lot beyond the 8,200-foot
elevation contour line on
the property. The city said
the conversion of the lot to
a trailhead for its Maryland
Mountain/Quartz Valley
would require Black Hawk
to install a 28-foot-long
footbridge and set of stairs
over part of the property to
connect with the forthcom-
ing trail system.
Spellman and City Man-
ager Stephen Cole were
scheduled to present the
letter to Central City Man-
ager Daniel Miera and May-
or Jeremy Fey at a meeting
this morning (Feb. 15).
The Central mayor said he
will know more after receiv-
ing the offer letter from
Black Hawk. “It’s better
than getting a lawsuit,” he
said, with a chuckle in his
voice.
Noted Spellman, “We
have had on-again-off-again
conversations with the City
of Central over the last
several years regarding this
request by the City of Black
Hawk. The Black Hawk
City Council now wants to
advance the proposal in a
meaningful and impactful
fashion, benefiting both
cities and their respective
projects. We firmly believe
we are offering the right
ingredients to make this
a win-win for both cities,
and we look forward to the
City of Central’s thoughtful
response. As a demonstra-
tion of the sincerity of the
Black Hawk Council, we will
include the signatures of
Central City’s aldermen
could consider the Black
Hawk letter, the potential
$250,000 donation, and
the offer to give Central the
5.75 parcel near Lake Gulch
Road as early as their meet-
ing on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
“In the longer term, Black
Hawk may consider con-
structing a parking garage
and, if feasible, a boutique
hotel on the property,”
according to the letter. “In
doing so, as part of any for-
malized agreement between
Central and Black Hawk,
Black Hawk is willing to
enter into a binding agree-
ment and recorded height
limitation of 75 feet on any
building constructed on the
property.”
Call for appointment
LETTERS & COLUMNS
Send Letters to the Editor via email with all contact information in-
cluded to news@weeklyregistercall.com. The Weekly Register-Call
does not guarantee publication or pay for submissions and reserves
the right to edit for length and content. Letters should be short (less
than 350 words) and of local content. Anonymous letters will not be
published. Deadline is noon Friday prior to the week of publication.
In Black Hawk’s council
packet for its Feb. 14 meet-
ing, the proposed letter
said, “The Black Hawk City
Council believes this is
truly a ‘win-win’ for both
Central and Black Hawk,
both in the short-term and
the long-term, and hopes to
receive a positive response
and acceptance of this offer
(Editor’s note: A story re-
garding Central’s response
to the Black Hawk offer
is planned for next week’s
edition.)
By Peter Droge
President, Belvidere
The active restora-
tion of the Belvidere
Theater has taken a
mid-winter break to
avoid construction
in snowy weather.
However, planning
is underway for con-
struction to begin in
the early spring, focus-
ing on completing
exterior brickwork and
beginning structural
improvements on the
interior.
The big accomplish-
ment over the last few
months has been the
removal of all asbestos
from the interior. It
was a bigger job than
anticipated but has
been completed ac-
cording to the rigorous
standards required for
this type of project by
the state.
Recent progress at the Belvidere Theater includes removing asbestos in the Nevada Street building.
Drone photo by Don Ireland
The restoration of the exterior has so far
required replacing thousands of bricks. When
complete, the exterior brickwork will be sealed
but not painted to maintain the historic charac-
ter of the building.
The Foundation is grateful to the City of
Central and the many community members
who have supported the restoration efforts.
The primary responsibility of the Foundation is
to restore the Belvidere for future generations
of Gilpin County residents. Once the renova-
tion nears completion, the Foundation looks
forward to exploring possible ways to use the
building.
in a Health Insur-
ance Marketplace
plan, you’ll need to
file.
Dear Savvy Senior,
What are the IRS income tax filing re-
quirements for retirees this tax season?
I didn’t file a tax return the past two
years because my income was below the
filing threshold, but I got a part-time
job late last year, so I’m wondering if
I’m required to file this year.
SAVVY SENIOR
And so, for
all who didn’t get to see
him lead Denver to its
first Super Bowl appear-
ance after the 1977 regular
season (including infants
who grew up to be ardent
Broncos fans and, presum-
ably, Gradishar admirers),
let me acquaint you with
the city’s newest member
of the Pro Football Hall of
Fame.
You’ll also need
to file if you’re
receiving Social
Security benefits,
and one-half of
your benefits plus
your other gross
income and any
tax-exempt interest
exceeds $25,000,
or $32,000 if you’re married and filing
jointly.
Retired Worker
Dear Retired,
Whether or not you are required to file
a federal income tax return this year will
depend on how much you earned last
year (in 2023), as well as the source of
the income, your age and filing status.
Five players from that ’74
draft preceded Gradishar
to Canton: Steelers Lynn
Swann, Jack Lambert,
John Stallworth and Mike
Webster (four HOFers in
one draft!), and Raiders
tormentor Dave Casper. All
were chosen after him.
BY JIM MILLER
Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s
IRS tax filing requirement thresholds.
Gradishar was a three-
year starter at linebacker
for the Ohio State Buckeyes
of coach Woody Hayes,
whose own gilded legacy
was tarnished by an unfor-
tunate sideline incident late
in his illustrious, if some-
times bombastic, career.
To figure all this out, the IRS offers
an online tax tool that asks a series of
questions that will help you determine
if you’re required to file or if you should
file because you’re due a refund. It takes
less than 15 minutes to complete.
For most people, this is pretty straight-
forward. If your 2023 gross income –
which includes all taxable income, not
counting your Social Security benefits,
unless you are married and filing sepa-
rately – was below the threshold for your
filing status and age, you probably won’t
have to file. But if it’s over, you will.
Gradishar joined the
Broncos following their
first winning season in his-
tory—7-5-2, good for third
place in their division, in
1973.
You can access this tool at IRS.gov/
Help/ITA – click on “Do I Need to File a
Tax Return?” Or you can get assistance
over the phone by calling the IRS
helpline at 800-829-1040.
“The best linebacker I
ever coached,” Hayes once
said of his consensus first-
team All-America in 1972
and unanimous first-team
All-America in 1973. “No
more outstanding young
Single: $13,850 ($15,700 if you’re 65
or older by Jan. 1, 2023).
He became a starter mid-
way through his rookie sea-
son and, by 1976, was the
centerpiece of what came
to be known as Denver’s
“Orange Crush” defense.
Married filing jointly: $27,700
($29,200 if you or your spouse is 65 or
older; or $30,700 if you’re both over 65).
Check your state
Even if you’re not required to file a
federal tax return this year, don’t as-
sume that you’re also excused from filing
state income taxes. The rules for your
state might be very different. Check with
your state tax agency before concluding
that you’re entirely in the clear. For links
to state tax agencies, see Taxadmin.org/
fta-members .
Married filing separately: $5 at
any age.
During his
10 years in
orange and
blue, Den-
ver won 83,
lost 55 and
tied one,
and went to
the playoffs
four times.
Head of household: $20,800
($22,650 if 65 or older).
Qualifying surviving
spouse: $27,700 ($29,200 if 65 or
older).
To get a detailed breakdown on fed-
eral filing requirements, along with
information on taxable and nontaxable
income, call the IRS at 800-829-3676
and ask them to mail you a free copy of
the “1040 and 1040-SR Instructions for
Tax Year 2023,” or you can see it online
at IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf .
Tax preparation help
If you find that you do need to file a tax
return this year, you can free file through
the IRS at IRS.gov/FreeFile if your
2023 adjusted gross income was below
$79,000.
Forty
years later
he remains
tied for 11th
in pass in-
terceptions,
all-time,
with 20. Of
note, the
10 players
ahead of
him all got
theirs as
either safe-
ties or cor-
nerbacks,
who are
expected to
rack up PIs.
Or, if you need some help, contact
the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (or
TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS,
TCE provides free tax preparation and
counseling to middle and low-income
taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call 800-
906-9887 or visit IRS.treasury.gov/
freetaxprep to locate services near you.
Check here too
Be aware that there are other financial
situations that can require you to file
a tax return, even if your gross income
falls below the IRS filing requirements.
For example, if you earned more than
$400 from self-employment in 2023,
owe any taxes on an IRA, Health Savings
Account or an alternative minimum tax,
or get premium tax credits because you,
your spouse or a dependent is enrolled
You can also get tax preparation as-
sistance through the AARP Foundation
Tax-Aide service. Call 888-227-7669 or
visit AARP.org/findtaxhelp for more
information. You don’t have to be an
AARP member to use this service.
Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
n 1859, Jules Beni,
a French trader,
established Jules-
burg as a trading
post along the South
Platte River in the
northeastern corner
of Colorado. From the
beginning, this was an
important stop along
the Overland Trail,
although the trail only
crossed this small
section of what would
become Colorado. Yet
the north/south fork
of the Overland trail
occurred at Julesburg,
making it a strategic
supply point. The north
trail followed the North
Platte River through
Wyoming to South
Pass, on into Califor-
nia and Oregon. The
southern trail followed
the South Platte River
to the early settlement
of Denver City. As
traffic increased along the route Fort
Rankin was constructed nearby
to protect the travelers from the
often roaming Indian raids.
Warring Indians sacking Julesberg settlement.
Photo courtesy of Denver Public Library
at their leave to plunder the area. Barrels of flour,
sugar, and molasses were taken, as well as sacks of
cornmeal, beans, sides of bacon and canned goods.
Both Charles and George Bent, members of the
Cheyenne Dog Soldiers, and sons of the famed fort
owner, William Bent, participated in the raid.
George later recalled the plundering, saying
the Indians did not understand things in a can,
and were disgusted when George opened a can
of oysters and slurped down the contents. Bent
also recounted the discovery of green paper by
the Indians. Not knowing it was federal cur-
rency, they threw it aside, at which point Bent,
who knew all too well the value of the money,
scurried to scoop it up. George Bent also found
a new soldier’s uniform, which he took and
proudly wore in future Indian raids.
And for a time, the U.S. Army prevailed in raids
of their own, such as Summit Springs, and Beecher
Island. This did not end the Indian wars in Colo-
rado or the West until 1876, in Montana, at a place
known as the Battle of the Little Big Horn.
Following the brutal massa-
cre of innocent Cheyenne and
Arapaho Indians at the peaceful
Indian camp in southeastern Colorado known as
Sand Creek, in November 1864, the Plains Indians
formed an alliance for war and revenge, the likes of
which the western settlers had never experienced,
culminating with the 1876 massacre known as the
Battle of the Little Big Horn.
Following the Sand Creek massacre, Indian war
councils were held and concluded, preparations for
raids along the Platte River were made, including
a massive raid at the town of Julesburg, Colo. The
immediate concern was fortification of supplies.
A short time later the women, led by Mo-chi,
entered the fray with packhorses and began
loading the goods onto the animals. As the war-
riors began to leave the scene, Mo-chi busied
herself with herding the captured horses.
“The tradition of the war pipe, when necessary,
was sent out in the spring, but after the slaughter
at Sand Creek, the war pipe went out in the winter,
this was early December. To my knowledge, from
the old ones, never before had the war pipe been
sent in the time of winter until after Sand Creek,”
said John L. Sipes, Cheyenne Nation historian.
Meanwhile, with the plundering of Jules-
burg in progress, the pursuing soldiers who
had followed the decoys, amazingly (perhaps
in confusion,) had dismounted and staged a
counter fight. The warriors pounced on the
soldiers, killing 15, including a bugler, who
many warriors first counted coup on. When Old
Crow made the final attack of death, Cheyenne
warrior Medicine Water took the bugler’s horse
as his prize. The victorious warriors made their
way to the retreating group, where Medicine
Water turned his prize horse loose with Mo-
chi’s horse herd.
Following several small raids along the Platte
River, the massive Julesburg raid occurred in Jan-
uary 1865. More than 1,000 warriors of Cheyenne,
Sioux and Arapaho made the attack. Included in
this war party were the many women who traveled
with the group, herding the extra horses needed
to carry the supplies obtained back to their camp.
Among these women was Mo-chi, a survivor of
Sand Creek, who insisted on helping her people in
whatever way she could. She would prove herself
worthy.
The Indians retreated from Julesburg for a
time, and the U.S. Army responded. Within
30 days of the Julesburg attack, the U.S. Army
sent added troops to guard stage stops and
various trails, including the Overland Trail. The
Indians responded by simply changing tactics
and destinations; the raids continued. Jules-
burg was raided again, burned to the ground,
and the town relocated, two miles north of the
army post. The town of Julesburg would move
two more times, unprecedented in Colorado
history.
It was an incredible attack; thoughtfully planned
and executed brilliantly. The collective warriors,
led by the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers, approached the
bluff above Julesburg, hiding in the sand hills. It
was a crisp cold night, yet it mattered not. Most of
the warriors were deep in thought and prepara-
tion. The warriors readied their lances, shields,
bows and arrows. Only a few had firearms. At sun-
rise on Jan. 7, 1865, a separate group of warriors,
led by Big Crow, quietly approached Fort Rankin
and rushed the guards outside the fort walls. The
soldiers returned fire and then the gates of the
compound opened with over 40 mounted soldiers
in pursuit of the Indian war party. The decoy
worked perfectly.
The Indian raids continued along the vari-
ous overland stage routes, eventually forcing
famed overland stage owner, Ben Holladay to
near bankruptcy. By 1868, the U.S. government
became convinced that peace negotiations were
needed once again. Successful at first, Jules-
burg and most of Colorado Territory were spared
from further Indian raids.
Soon the Indian scouts sent the signal and the
hidden warriors converged upon the fort and
nearby settler quarters. With the soldiers away in
pursuit of the decoys, the remaining warriors were
This historical marker, highlighting the
history of Julesberg, was
erected in 1931.
Shirley Jean Smith (Porter), cherished wife, mother, grandmother,
great-grandmother and successful entrepreneur, peacefully passed away
on Feb. 4, 2024, in Evergreen, at the age of 82. Shirley was born on July
15, 1941, to Dorothy Ruth Goldie and Frank Andrew Porter.
most recent successful
bear hunt. Shirley also
enjoyed pastimes such as
recounting her early life
stories to her many de-
scendants.
Shirley’s journey began in New Castle, where she spent her first 18
years laying the foundation for a life filled with love and accomplish-
ment. It was during her time at Colorado State University in Fort Collins
that she met the love of her life, Edward E Smith, on a blind date. They
were married on July 23, 1961, and enjoyed 62 years of marriage togeth-
er, residing in Evergreen. It was there that they built a home together,
figuratively and quite literally — with logs they processed and trucked
over from their ranch in New Castle, Bearpen Ranch.
Friends and family
are invited to pay their
respects at the funeral
services on February 16,
2024, at Three Trees
Chapel, 13416 W Arbor
Place, Littleton, CO 80127.
The viewing will begin at
9 a.m., followed by the
service at 10 a.m.
Survived by her devoted husband, Edward E Smith, Shirley leaves be-
hind a legacy of love and kindness. She is also survived by her four chil-
dren Raymond E Smith, Sherell J Smith, Timothy G Smith, and Ulbert
Shane Smith. Shirley was a dedicated wife and mother who poured her
heart into her family, and her memory will live on in the hearts of her 11
grandchildren and 11 (soon to be 12)
great-grandchildren.
TOP:
Shirley
harvested
this deer
herself.
Shirley will be remembered for her generous spirit, un-
wavering love for her family,
and the positive impact she
had on the lives of everyone
around her. May she rest in
peace, forever surrounded
by the love she so freely gave
throughout her remarkable
life.
As an accomplished entrepre-
neur, Shirley successfully managed
a laundromat, several retail busi-
nesses, the Wild Card and Sasquatch
casinos, and the Squatch Gas Sta-
tion, leaving an indelible mark on the
local business landscapes in Gilpin
and Clear Creek counties. A lifelong
hunter, Shirley was 80 during her
Several members
of the Smith
family would drive
to Canada for
hunting trips
including this
trip in 1980 when
Shirley bagged
this bear.
LEFT: Shirley doing one of the
things she loved — riding a four-
wheeler on the ranch in New
Castle. After a fun-filled day of
four-wheeling she would end the
day with a big family meal with
Pepsi for everyone!
The old Jenkins, McKay Hardware building became the current Sasquatch Casino on
Gregory Street in Black Hawk.
TOP: Ed
and Shirley
Smith in the
casino with
Sasquatch.
RIGHT: The
Smith fam-
ily together.
Shirley
is seated
second from
the right.
On the evening of Feb. 8,
the Idaho Springs Police
Department (ISPD) dealt
with two significant crimi-
nal incidents in the city.
Boulevard. As it
turned out, the plate
was associated with
a male wanted for
first-degree kidnap-
ping.
The first incident started
with a routine traffic stop
in the 1300 block of Miner
Street for an obscured li-
cense plate. The passenger,
Doug Jump, 41, of Empire,
was wanted on a Denver
felony warrant for posses-
sion of drugs to distribute a
controlled substance, first-
degree vehicle theft and
reckless driving.
When the officer
tried to pull the
vehicle over, the
driver attempted to
flee, speeding and
swerving eastbound
on I-70 to escape
capture. This also
caused the driver,
Julius Tapia, 33, of
Thornton, to lose
control and crash
into a light pole near
mile marker 243.
Tapia was treated
for minor injuries
and then taken into
custody on his war-
rant and charged
with vehicular
eluding and driving
while his license was
suspended by ISPD.
TOP: Items found in the vehicle after
Doug Jump was arrested.
BOTTOM: The crashed car after a chase
on I-70. ISPD was able to arrest Julius
Tapia on a warrant for kidnapping.
As ISPD searched the
vehicle after the arrest, they
found several bags of blue
pills believed to be fentanyl,
drug paraphernalia, and a
loaded weapon. Jump was
also charged with unlawful
distribution and manufac-
turing of drugs, possession
of a firearm by a previous
offender, and possession of
drug paraphernalia.
Later, an ISPD officer
ran the license plate on
a vehicle observed in the
2900 block of Colorado
“Fentanyl overdoses are
impacting the entire state
of Colorado. ISPD con-
tinues to work diligently
to put a stop to the sale
of illegal narcotics in our
community,” said Sgt. Ryan
Frost.
CDOT wants input on trail adjoining I-70 Floyd Hill project
While construction continues along the $700
million CDOT I-70 Floyd Hill project, the
nearby Clear Creek Greenway Trail has been
closed for several months.
during weekday hours between 7 a.m. and
5:30 p.m. Drivers accessing westbound I-70
can avoid the closure by traveling east on U.S.
40 or I-70 to Lookout Mountain and taking the
on-ramp to the interstate.
escape
ramp en-
trance.
CDOT said
some lane
restrictions
will occur at
various times
at both project loca-
tions. The new escape ramp project is expected
to be completed in late May or early June.
With spring approaching, CDOT is seeking
input on alternative trail access from those
who use the trail. The state asks trail users to
participate in an online survey at www.budd.
ly.481yqZb. The survey will close on Friday,
Feb. 23.
Projects between Floyd Hill and Den-
ver
Meanwhile, two other CDOT projects be-
tween C-470 and Floyd Hill continue to im-
pact traffic between Floyd Hill and C-470 in
Golden.
Photo courtesy CDOT.
A section of the trail remains closed between
U.S. 6 (Exit 244) and the Hidden Valley-
Central City Parkway (Exit 243) during road
construction and utility work. CDOT said the
work is expected to last until later this spring.
However, users should expect ongoing trail
impacts and closures through spring 2027.
The one-mile part of the trail will remain an
active construction zone and is considered un-
safe for multi-use travel, although other parts
of the trail will remain open.
This week and next, parts of I-70 and
U.S. 40 near Genesee will be subject to
closing so CDOT can continue construc-
tion of a $10 million wildlife underpass
along the interstate.
Project overview
The $700 million I-70 Floyd Hill project will build a
third westbound I-70 travel lane, which will function
as an Express Lane, to improve the current two-lane
bottleneck heading down Floyd Hill westbound. The
new toll lane will begin near the top of Floyd Hill west-
bound and will be a fly-over lane that will end near the
Veterans Memorial Tunnels.
The closures are scheduled between
7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Mondays through
Fridays through Feb. 17. Drivers ac-
cessing U.S. 40 eastbound can detour
around the closure by using eastbound
I-70 to the Lookout Mountain exit.
Westbound drivers cannot take the exits
at Genesee and Mount Vernon Road.
• Constructing a missing two-mile section of the
frontage road between Evergreen and Idaho
Springs.
Utility work in the vicinity
This week, construction crews continue to
conduct utility work between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
on U.S. 6 at the U.S. 40 junction and the U.S. 6
on-ramp to westbound I-70. The area is below
Floyd Hill and near the Two Bears taproom.
• Building an eastbound I-70 extended on-ramp for
slow-moving vehicles. Improving traffic flow and
access at interchanges and intersections within
the project limits.
The wildlife underpass area has
been ongoing for months near the top
of Genesse Hill and is expected to be
completed this spring. On unannounced
days, the left lane, heading westbound,
is closed to accommodate the work. Mo-
torists should read the orange construc-
tion signs heading up I-70 from Morri-
son to learn if the work may impact the
traffic flow.
• Improving sight distance on roadway curves.
Improving the Clear Creek Greenway trail. Imple-
menting environmental mitigation to create safer
wildlife movements and improve air and water
quality and stream conditions an d recreation.
I-70 ramp closure
The Homestead Road on-ramp to westbound
I-70 – at the top of Floyd Hill – will remain
closed through Friday, Feb. 16, although
weather may play a factor in the reopening
plans.
Driver cautions
CDOT said motorists should expect narrower lanes
and shoulders, reduced speed limits as low as 45 mph
and increased truck traffic entering and exiting the work
zones. All construction activities are weather-dependent
and subject to change. During construction, the exist-
ing I-70 travel lanes will remain open in each direction
during peak daytime travel hours. Lane closure hours
for the duration of construction will vary based on the
season, day of the week, number of lanes being closed
and travel direction.
Motorists near the top of Floyd Hill on U.S.
40 should continue west on U.S. 40, travel
down the hill and use the U.S. 6 interchange to
access westbound I-70.
The larger project includes rebuilding
the eastbound emergency truck escape
ramp between Mt. Vernon Road (Exit
256) and the Morrison exit (Exit 259).
There will be overnight double-lane clo-
sures on eastbound I-70 in the vicinity.
The emergency ramp has been closed
for weeks.
Highway 6 restrictions
Along Clear Creek Canyon (Highway 6),
ongoing, single-land closures are planned
from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. between mile points 267
and 271.5. The restrictions will continue today
through Friday, Feb. 23, according to CDOT.
• The escape ramp work will include:
Project sections
The Floyd Hill project is divided into three sections.
The East Section is from the west of Evergreen to mid-
way down Floyd Hill near the Black Hawk interchange
(Exit 244). The West Section is from near Exit 243
(Central City Parkway) to the Veterans Memorial Tun-
nels near Idaho Springs. The Central Section is from
the middle of Floyd Hill through Exit 243 (Central
City/Hidden Valley exit). The east section began this
spring and continues through June 2026. The West
section is expected to start this fall and will conclude
in the fall of 2027. The Central section has begun and
will continue into 2028. The East part of the project
includes installing two new traffic roundabouts along
Highway 40, at County Road 65 and Homestead Road.
Flagmen control traffic during some of the daytime
work.
• New signage.
The planned restrictions are part of the
ongoing Peak to Plains Huntsman Gulch trail
project that began last year in Jefferson Coun-
ty, between Highway 119 and Golden.
• Larger barriers between the ramp
and the steep embankment.
• Additional cameras.
New I-70 Golden closure
Westbound I-70 near Golden will experience
random lane closures until later this month
• New ramp lighting.
• A new design intended to allow late
entry for truckers who miss the
Construct crews
installing rebar on
wall along Floyd Hill.
For information on the Highway 6/Clear Creek
Canyon project being conducted by Jeffco, visit www.
jeffco.us/P2P . Phone information is available at 720-
893-0403. The email address is peak2plains@gmail.
com. For real-time travel information, visit www.
COtrip.org.
Friday Adventures with CCMRD — No
school on Fridays? Put your child in our Friday
Adventures Program. We will be exploring all
around Clear Creek County and going on several
field trips! Drop off at the Clear Creek Rec Center
between 7:30 and 9 a.m., pick up between 4 and
5:30 p.m. For ages 5-15. $45 per child. Friday,
Feb. 9 – Ice Skating at Evergreen Lake; Friday, Feb.
16 – Denver Zoo; Friday, Feb. 23 – Hammonds
Candy Tour; Friday, March 1 – Colorado History
Museum; Friday, March 8 – Denver Museum of
Nature & Science Planetarium – Black Holes. Con-
tact caitlin@ccmrd.com or call 303-567-4822 for
more information.
26. Format Changes Monthly. Bring your own bags
or bags provided at the Lodge! Entry fee is $10 per
person. Minimum 8 – maximum 20 players with
20 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the
Elks Club Building Preservation Fund. 10 or less
– Payout for 1st place is 50 percent and 2nd place
is 30 percent; 12 or more – Payout for 1st place is
40 percent, 2nd 25 percent, 3rd 15 percent. Mini
Pizzas available for purchase – Free Popcorn. Text
303-349-2052 for sign-up and more info.
CCMRD Adult Pickleball — Clear Creek
Recreation Center. Skills and Drills for Intermedi-
ates on Tuesdays, 8 – 10 a.m. $10 per class covering
a variety of topics to improve your game. Pickleball
Basics for Beginners on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 12 noon,
$10 per class is for anyone who wants to learn the
basics of the game – forehand, backhand, serve,
volley and scoring. Saturday Open Play, 10 a.m. to
noon, for Intermediate players. All equipment is
provided or bring your own. Advance registration
is required for classes and open play. Check out
the Open Play schedule and register for classes at
clearcreekrecreation.com.
Clear Creek Library District — The libraries
will be closed on Monday, Feb. 19. Monster Mash
Party for kids and teens, Idaho Springs Library,
Thursday, Feb. 22, 5-7 p.m. Get ready to rock your
best monster mash costume and show off your
dance moves. Don’t miss the fun! Food, face paint-
ing, dancing, and games. Call 303-567-2020 for
more info.
Devil’s Gate History Club — Georgetown
Community Center, 613 6th St., Friday, Feb. 16, 7
p.m. “Louis Dupuy – Farm to Table” presented by
Kevin Kuharik.
XCEL Energy Dam Warning Siren Test-
ing Program — Wednesday, March 6, 10 a.m.,
then on the first Wednesday of every month. Xcel
Energy has installed four early warning sirens to
notify people in the town of Georgetown of po-
tential flooding due to the unlikely event of a dam
failure at Xcel Energy’s Cabin Creek or Georgetown
hydroelectric plants. The warning system installa-
tion is a federal requirement. In collaboration with
the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of
Georgetown, and Xcel Energy, Clear Creek County
will provide notice to the residents of Georgetown
ahead of the tests, so they know what to expect
and when. Learn more at www.clearcreekcounty.
us/1486/Georgetown-Monthly-Siren-Testing.
Quill & Spill with Local Author Lisa
Manifold — Wednesday, Feb. 21, 6 – 7:30 p.m.,
Idaho Springs Public Library; Saturday, Feb. 24,
9:30 – 11 a.m. Need some help plotting? Stuck in
the middle? Join us for any or all six Quill & Spill
sessions at the Idaho Springs Public Library to
discuss your project, share ideas, and connect with
other local authors! Hosted by local author Lisa
Manifold. Light refreshments will be provided. To
register, email chris@cccld.org by the day before
the event.
Corn Hole at the Idaho Springs Elks Club
— 1600 Colorado Blvd., 6 p.m. monthly on the last
Friday of each month – Feb. 23, March 29, April
If you have regularly scheduled meetings or upcoming special events that are open to the pub-
lic, we want to add them to the CCC Community Calendar. Please email the who, what, when,
where, why and how in 75 words or less, exactly as you would want it printed, to amy@week-
lyregistercall.com . Please send information at least two weeks in advance of your event.
County wil increase recenter fes begining on March 1
By Don Ireland
$9 and $10, depending on
the user’s age and whether
they live in the county.
The cost for one-month,
three-month and annual
passes also will increase for
the remainder of the year,
depending on the user’s age
and residency status.
the rec center’s website and
newsletter.
director said she sought rate
increases to help offset the
reduced income and make
the facility more “self-sus-
tainable.”
For 2024, Chisholm said
the center had eliminated
$100,00 in line-item pur-
chases, reduced its part-
time staff, and made other
cuts. She noted that utilities
for the building are estimat-
ed at $230,000 this year.
“It’s been really hard on us,”
she commented. “We’ve
been through a lot of ups
and downs. I don’t know
about the future.”
Senior Reporter
Originally, Chisholm
planned to discontinue sell-
ing annual passes. However,
she said she would follow
the commissioners’ recom-
mendations to continue the
program after they sug-
gested the passes should
contain a line, “hours and
days subject to change.”
The fees for some Gilpin
Community Center pro-
grams will rise by $1 or
more starting on March 1.
She noted that many
insurance providers sup-
port Silver Sneakers and
other programs that pay for
seniors to use the rec center.
In addition, the non-profit
Friends of Gilpin Com-
munity Center offers Heart
Fund “scholarships” to help
residents who can’t afford
to pay for rec center passes
and sports equipment.
By a 2-1 vote, the Gilpin
Board of County Commis-
sioners approved several
increases for the community
center at their meeting on
Tuesday, Feb. 13. The dis-
cussion brought on a larger
topic – the future of the rec
center in 2025 and beyond
– into the spotlight during
the meeting, too.
Prices for childcare for
kids graded K-5 also will
rise, depending on whether
the children are attending
full-day or after-school pro-
grams. The registration fee
for the program will be $30,
a $5 increase. Those partici-
pating in field trips will be
charged $66, compared to
the current $55. Parks and
Recreation Director Gabri-
elle Chisholm said the new
rates will be available on
Commissioner Marie
Mornis voted against the
increases after her motion
– to freeze the fees this year
– failed to get a second.
Hollingsworth said the old
mill levy means that casinos
will pay about $700,000
less this year than if the
property tax had remained
in effect. Currently, the cen-
ter will continue operating
for the remainder of 2024.
“I don’t have a crystal ball
[to predict the future],” said
the commissioner, who gave
Chisholm kudos for seeking
sponsorships and additional
funding for the facility.
Chisholm said Gilpin’s
rates continue to be lower
than those in other counties.
After county voters rejected
a special millage levy in
November to finance some
of the rec center’s costs, the
Mornis said county lead-
ers should discuss the rec
center beyond the current
year, noting the county’s
budget paid for the facil-
ity from when it opened in
2002 until the pandemic
struck in 2020. At that time,
the voters passed a three-
year 2.56\ mill levy to fund
the rec center. The money
comes from the county gen-
eral fund and user fees.
Commissioners Susan
Berumen and Sandy Hol-
lingsworth voted to increase
daily drop-in fees by $1 for
residents and non-residents.
Punch cards for 10 admis-
sions will increase between
Replied Mornis, “I’m a lot
more optimistic about the
future.” She recommended
that county leaders meet
to discuss the rec center
operations for its long-term
future.
Jefferson Academy
enrollment
With Jefferson County
Schools closing the Coal
Creek Canyon building
this year, parents have
organized a group that
will run the school as part
of the Jefferson Academy
system, a private academy
for preschool children and
those in grades kindergar-
ten through eighth.
This year, Gilpin County’s
budget has allocated ap-
proximately $2.7 million for
the rec center, including $1
million for capital repairs.
The recently ended mill levy
resulted in the center receiv-
ing $1.1 million less in 2024
compared to 2023. County
leaders said approximately
$600,000 remaining from
the rec center’s budget last
year will help defray the
costs this year. When ap-
proving the 2024 budget,
the county commissioners
reduced the operating days
for the rec center from five
to four days.
BRIEFS
BRIEFS
Berumen said the rec
center fees hadn’t increased
for more than three years,
adding many senior citizens
don’t have to pay for meals
and programs there. “I don’t
think there’s anything that’s
free,” she remarked.
The school is accept-
ing information from
parents who are interested
in enrolling children for
the upcoming year. It will
serve families in the Coal
Creek Canyon area and
beyond in Gilpin, Jefferson
and Boulder counties.
U.S. Forest Service continues pile burns
Seeing smoke in Gilpin County? The USFS is asking residents not to report it to
authorities because most of the smoke is coming from piles being burned north of
Central City and in the vicinity of the Gross Reservoir near Pinecliffe.
For information on the
rec center and Heart Fund
grants available through
the Friends of Gilpin Com-
munity Center, visit www.
gilpincommunitycenter.
org.
The Forest Service said there has been an uptick in 911 calls to the Gilpin County
Sheriff’s Department. During burning, USFS partners from The Nature Conser-
vancy, Timberline Fire Protection District and Lefthand Fire Protection District
have been observing the burns. The service reports that the area has adequate snow
cover, and there are no holding concerns. Resources remain on scene until the piles
have burned down.
Black Hawk Police Department (BHPD) is alerting
the public about recent fraudulent phone calls imper-
sonating a Sgt. Matthew Johnson from BHPD.
January 24
Civil problem — Officer B.
Davis responded to the Am-
eristar Casino on a report of a
verbal disturbance. It was deter-
mined no crime occurred, and
parties were identified.
report of damaged property at
the Ameristar Casino. A report
was taken. No suspects have
been identified.
Assisted the division of
gaming — Officers responded
to the Horseshoe Casino on
the report of a male refusing
to leave. It was determined the
male was upset because he was
accused of a gaming violation.
A report was taken to forward
to Dept. of Gaming for investi-
gation.
Here’s how it works:
• A spoofed phone call appears to come from a valid
BHPD number,
January 26
Burglary, theft — BHPD was
notified of a previously unre-
ported burglary at the Ameris-
tar Casino on August 22, 2023.
A report was taken, and a male
and female suspect have been
identified and linked to a Janu-
ary 22, burglary at the same
location.
• The caller claims they have a warrant, legal matter, or
fine that results in payment being demanded over the
phone.
Trespassing — Officers were
dispatched to the Monarch
regarding a trespass. Officers
arrived on the scene and con-
tacted the suspect. The suspect
was cooperative and believed
she was not trespassing. Casino
management requested she
leave the premises and not
return.
• The caller then steals sensitive financial information.
January 28
Criminal traffic violation
— Officers stopped a vehicle
bearing no license plate in the
6000 Block of Highway 119. The
driver had a temporary tag on
the front passenger area and
was given a warning for mount-
ing the plate.
BHPD takes this matter very seriously and wants to
emphasize that they will never call and demand payment
of fines over the phone. BHPD is working diligently to
investigate and has contacted the FBI, which is aware of
other similar scamming calls around the state.
Trespassing — Officers
responded to the Lodge Casino
on the report of a party tres-
passing. A male suspect was
contacted, issued, and released
on a summons for trespassing.
Possession of amphetamine
— Officers were dispatched to
the Lodge Casino in reference
to a small amount of white pow-
der found in room 326. Officers
arrived and took possession
of the white substance. A field
test revealed it was metham-
phetamine. The substance was
logged into BHPD evidence.
Furthermore, BHPD advises If anyone receives a sus-
picious call claiming to be from the Black Hawk Police
Department, demanding payment or personal informa-
tion, to hang up immediately and report it to your local
law enforcement.
Public intoxication — Of-
ficers responded to the
Monarch Casino for a welfare
check. A male was contacted
and checked by paramedics.
Casino staff agreed to let the
male sleep in his vehicle, then
asked for a second contact,
saying they wanted him off the
property. The male was advised
to leave the property, and an FI
report was completed.
Criminal traffic violation
— An officer conducted a traffic
stop at the bus turnaround from
the Lodge Casino. The driver
was released on a verbal warn-
ing for defective brake lights.
Criminal traffic violation —
Officers saw a vehicle at 5800
Highway 119 bearing a fictitious
Colorado Temporary Tag. The
vehicle was stopped, and the
driver was cited.
Criminal traffic violation
— Officers received a report of
a possible intoxicated driver.
The vehicle was located at 5800
Highway 119. The driver was
stopped and determined not to
be intoxicated. He was given a
verbal warning for defective tail
lamps.
Gilpin County Parks & Recreation
Gilpin County Community Center
Criminal traffic violation —
Officers conducted a traffic stop
on a vehicle with no license
plate occurring on the 300
block of Main Street. The driver
was given a verbal warning,
and a field interview report was
completed.
Theft, larceny, from vehicle
— Officers responded to the
Lady Luck parking garage on a
theft from a vehicle. The victim’s
suitcase was taken out of the
car, and there is no suspect
information.
250 Norton Drive
Assisted Gilpin County
S.O. — An officer responded
to the 100 block of Selak Street
in Black Hawk to assist Gilpin
County Sheriff’s Office on a
traffic stop. An arrest was made,
and a report was completed.
Pool Hours – WINTER
Criminal traffic violation
— A BHPD officer conducted
a traffic stop on Highway 119
and mile marker 5.8 on a vehicle
with no rear lights. The driver
turned the lights on and was
released on a warning.
January 27
Death — The Black Hawk
Police Department responded
to the Horseshoe Casino on a re-
port of a female who appeared
to have hanged herself. A report
was taken.
Controlled substance
— Black Hawk Officers were
dispatched to the Horseshoe
casino on a report of found
drugs. The officers arrived and
learned that the suspect was
no longer on the scene. Officers
seized the drugs and booked it
into evidence.
Criminal traffic violation —
Officers observed a vehicle run
a stop sign exiting the Monarch
Garage. The vehicle then was
paced at a high rate of speed
in a 15 mph zone. When the
vehicle was stopped, its tempo-
rary plate was expired February
2022, and the driver’s license
was suspended. A citation was
issued.
Domestic problem — BHPD
received a call about a distur-
bance in progress at the Mon-
arch Casino Hotel. Investigation
revealed it was verbal only
between a husband and wife.
No criminal charges were filed.
January 25
Criminal traffic violation —
An officer conducted a traffic
stop on a vehicle for speeding
and plate not visible occurring
at Highway 119 mile marker 6.1.
The driver was given a verbal
warning, and a field interview
report was completed.
Cardio Dance Class — Mon 2/5-4/1 (no class 2/19) | 5:00-
5:55 p.m. Ages 14 and up, $65/session or $9/drop-in for ages
14-59, $50/session or $7/drop-in for ages 60 and up.
Crash and dash — Officers
responded to the Ameristar
Parking Garage for a hit-and-
run report. An investigation is
ongoing.
Spring Swim Lessons for Kids — Six week session on
Saturday mornings Feb. 10 to March 16. Six week session #1 on
Wednesday afternoons Feb. 7 to March 13. Six week session #2 on
Wednesday afternoons April 3-May 8. $50/resident, $60/non-
resident per 6 week session. Multiple skill levels available.
Assisted the division of
gaming — BHPD Officers re-
ported to the Horseshoe Casino
for an assist with the Colorado
Division of Gaming regarding
an underage male gaming on
the casino floor. Upon arrival,
officers took the male’s informa-
tion and pulled a report to relay
to
Public peace — Officer B.
Davis contacted two parties in
a verbal disturbance at Gregory
and Cooper Street.
Criminal traffic violation —
Officers conducted a traffic stop
on a vehicle for careless driving
occurring on Main Street and
Highway 119. The driver was
given a verbal warning, and
a field interview report was
completed.
Parents’ Night Ou t — Friday, March 1, 4:30-8 p.m. Register
by Feb. 22, Ages 5-12, $25/child or $15/child if enrolled in Friday
camp. Dinner provided for all children. Drop your kids with us
and enjoy a Friday evening to relax, have date night, or get chores
done.
Criminal traffic violation —
Officers conducted a traffic stop
on Highway 119 at mile marker
5.8. The driver was given a ver-
bal warning for failing to yield
for a traffic signal. A FI report
was completed.
Spring Taekwondo — Mon./Wed., 6-7 p.m., with 7-7:30
p.m. on Monday for advanced training. Monthly memberships
available for $72/individual, $160/family. Drop-in per class $12.
Ages 4 to adult.
CDOG.
Trespassing — Officers were
dispatched to the Monarch
Casino for an ID check. Of-
ficers learned the suspect was
trespassed from the Monarch. A
report was taken, and a citation
was issued.
Trespassing — Officers con-
tacted a suspect on suspicion
of trespassing at the Lady Luck
Casino. The suspect was issued
a summons, and a report was
completed.
Trespassing, disorderly
conduct, public order crimes
— Officers responded to the
Lady Luck Hotel on a report of
a party trespassing. The sub-
ject was detained, escorted off
the property, and a report was
We are HIRING for summer youth camp leaders — Pay
is $16.69-22.53/hr, dependent on qualifications and experience.
Summer camp runs June 10 – Aug. 16. Apply at www.gilpincoun-
ty.colorado.gov / careers or contact Jake Rippy with questions at
jrippy@gilpincounty.org.
Burglary, damaged prop-
erty — BHPD responded to a
Eagles Teen Program — Mon.-Wed., 4:15 p.m.-7:15 p.m.
Pilates Mat Class — Sat., 9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
Hatha Yoga — Mon. & Fri., 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Senior Fit — Mon., Wed. & Fri., 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Taekwondo — Mon. & Wed., 6 – 7 p.m.
Pickleball — (First 30 minutes is for instruction/practice-
no games at this time), Mon., Wed.: 8:30-11:30 a.m., Fri: 1 -4
p.m., Sat.: 9:30 -11:30 a.m. (family time, all ages can play).
Aquafit — Mon./Wed./Fri., 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Gilpin Stitchers Club — More info coming soon
Master Swim — Mon. and Wed., 6 -7:30 p.m.
Lap Swim — Mon., Wed., Fri., 8 -9:30 a.m.
Friends of the Gilpin County Community Center’s “Heart
of the Community Fund”
Supports residents in need with Family or individual 10-punch
cards for access to the pool, gym, and exercise facilities, as
well as scholarships for youth who need help to cover fees and
equipment for Taekwondo and youth sports (apply on-line) www.
gilpincommunitycenter.org
Gilpin County Fairgrounds for the annual Gil-
pin County GOP Lincoln Day Luncheon.
and incumbent Marie Mornis (both District 1);
Corey Marshall, Candidate for District 3; and
Marshall Dawson, Candidate for Congressional
District 2. Poor driving conditions prevented
Colorado House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese
from attending, but Matt Solomon delivered a
message from her and on her behalf.
Danny Tomlinson
Reporter and Photographer
The annual luncheon, held in honor of the
16th President of the United States, is always
fun with an excellent opportunity to meet can-
didates for the various state and local offices.
A small but hearty group of nearly 50 great
American patriots braved the cold, snow, and
bad road and driving conditions to attend the
The event was moved to the indoor arena at
the fairgrounds this year. The arena proved to
be an outstanding venue.
It was wonderful to hear from each of the
candidates about their plans and optimism for
the region’s future.
Matt Solomon served as emcee for the day.
The Event Committee included Marilyn Ash-
more, Kathleen Balfour and
Jessica Kays. The lunch was
catered by Joe and Kara Tinuc-
ci and featured BBQ brisket
and pulled pork from their JKQ
Barbecue at Crook’s Palace.
The candidates in attendance
included County Commis-
sioner Candidates Jessica Kays
County Com-
missioner
District 3 Can-
didate Corey
Marshall shared
his background
and experience
with the crowd
also.
Dignitaries in attendance included Matt Solomon, County
Commissioner and County GOP Chair Marie Mornis, and
GOP stalwart John Bryan.
County Commissioner District 1 Candidate
Jessica Kays spoke to the crowd about her
involvement in the community and her desire
to serve as Commissioner.
County GOP Vice-Chair Rick Wenzel was working the
registration table.
Congressional District 2 candidate
Marshall Dawson gave an inspira-
tional and moving speech.
County, residents working toward new childcare facility
By Don Ireland
They said they plan to
have additional information
on the effort before the com-
missioners’ workshop meet-
ing, scheduled for Tuesday
afternoon, Feb. 20.
aware of our deadlines,” he
noted.
• Acting as the county’s
Board of Adjustments,
the commissioners
unanimously approved
an extension of a tempo-
rary housing permit for
Amber Cusano of Con-
estoga Road. The exten-
sion will expire on Nov.
14, the same time as her
permit to build a new
home on the property.
The nearly hour-long
hearing was like one
conducted in October
– filled with conten-
tious debate between
neighbors and Cusano
over allegations involv-
ing disputes over vari-
ous issues, ranging from
unleashed dogs to trash,
sanitation and com-
plaint calls to the Gilpin
County Sheriff’s Office.
housing and potential
changes to funding the
county’s emergency
dispatch center. Central
currently pays Gilpin
about $30,000 a year for
dispatch services.
Senior Reporter
Added County Manager
Ray Rears, “We consider it
abandoned property.”
Nearly three months after
the Eagles’ Nest Early Child-
hood Center closed, Gilpin
County leaders and residents
continue searching for a
new agency to launch a new
childcare center.
Previously, Gilpin officials
said the county provided
$410,000 to the Eagles’
Nest since 2019, includ-
ing $160,000 in 2023. The
county leased the building
for $1 annually to the non-
profit organization.
Denton, who once had a
child attend the previous
daycare facility, said there
are about six residents
conducting work on the
new operation. They are
trying to determine staffing
needs, pricing, by-laws and
other aspects of the opera-
tion. They will seek seven to
nine residents who want to
volunteer on the new orga-
nization’s board of directors.
She expressed optimism that
the new group could have
programs available early in
the summer.
• Resident Kathleen Bal-
four complained about
potential rec-center fee
increases, noting the
county plans to spend
$1.3 million for a new
food pantry and another
$100,000 to rehabilitate
the East Portal Cabins.
Lyndsey Denton, the coun-
ty’s commissioners’ clerk,
has spearheaded a resident
task force to help secure a
new operator for the Eagles’
Nest building, which Gilpin
County owns. She and resi-
dents Kathleen Balfour and
Amy Carr reported on their
progress during the Gilpin
Board of County Commis-
sioner meeting on Tuesday,
Feb. 13.
In other business during
the commissioners’ meeting:
• The BoCC approved ap-
plying for a $200,000
grant from the Colorado
Department of Commu-
nity Affairs. The Strong
Communities grant will
help the county pay to
revise its land-use code,
conduct a housing needs
and assessment study
and create an infrastruc-
ture needs implementa-
tion program.
• Resident Roxy Goss
reported more than 20
volunteers to help at the
food pantry, including
herself, who spends six
or seven hours a week
there. She noted others
help raise produce at
the nearby community
garden and donate those
items to help support
needy families and
individuals served by the
pantry.
The three volunteers said
they are working to create
a new non-profit organiza-
tion that would lease the
Eagles’ Nest facility from
the county. However, many
details on the project remain
unresolved since the group
began meeting regularly in
January. A survey conducted
among residents in Decem-
ber showed that most par-
ents are looking for childcare
Mondays through Thurs-
days, the same days the
neighboring Gilpin County
School District building is
operational.
Carr said she has oper-
ated a childcare center in
the Boulder County area but
would like to work in Gilpin
County, where she resides.
• The commissioners
voted to advertise for a
temporary maintenance
worker but delayed a
vote to hire temporary
help for the public works
department.
Gilpin County Attorney
Brad Benning said some
equipment was left behind
in the Eagles’ Nest building.
When the former operation
closed, it owed money for a
loan it had received from the
Small Business Administra-
tion. He said the SBA didn’t
meet a Feb. 9 deadline to
remove the property, so it
remains within the county-
owned building. “They were
• The BoCC accepted a
$9,164 federal Food and
Drug Administration
grant. The Gilpin County
Public Health Agency
will use the money
received annually to pro-
vide inspections, annual
licensing, education, and
support for nearly 100
retail food outlets.
• Rears said the county
can accommodate
residents with mobility
issues at BoCC meetings.
He said the county will
provide a ramp and an
accessible parking space
to residents who make
such a request at least 24
hours before a meeting.
• Rears announced the
county commission-
ers would meet with
Central City’s alder-
men during a workshop
session on March 19 at
Central’s city hall. The
two groups will discuss
Unusual combination: Taylor Swift, Super Bowl andrones!
By Don Ireland
By Don Ireland
We’re now officially in
the post-Super Bowl hang-
over period. The big game
is over, all the new TV com-
mercials were aired, and
many of us got to see one-
too-many close-up shots
of Taylor Swift cheering on
boyfriend Travis Kelce and
the Kansas City Chiefs on
Sunday.
of the game couldn’t do
so anyway. However, that
doesn’t mean a Swiftie
might not have tried to
take a drone video of the
music superstar outside the
stadium.
always taboo to those as-
sociated with pro leagues.
Drones
Drones
After the TFR expired
an hour after the Super
Bowl on Sunday night, the
City of Newport Beach,
California, sponsored a
1,000-drone light show for
people leaving the game. It
had a theme, “Touch Down
in Newport Beach,” and
the drones created a QR
code in the sky, prompting
viewers to scan it and win a
chance for a luxury vaca-
tion package to Newport
Beach.
Third, the NFL (and
many professional sports
leagues) asked the FAA to
post a Temporary Flight
Restriction (TFR) over
stadiums. The TFR for
the NFL begins one hour
before and ends one hour
after a game. Anyone
caught violating a TFR
faces multiple potential
local and federal charges.
For the Super Bowl, the
NFL received a TFR for the
entire week, not just a few
hours before kickoff.
You probably didn’t see
how the NFL and Las Ve-
gas authorities dealt with
drones before, during and
after Super Bowl LVIII.
This regular “Age
of Drones” column
received a Colorado
FAA-Certified
Press Association
“Better Newspaper
Award” in September.
Part 107
Drone Pilot
Here are a few things
the average person might
not know: Las Vegas, like
Washington, D.C., has
some of the most restric-
tive drone-flying regula-
tions in the country. With
all the lights, high-rise casi-
nos and an airport near the
south end of the Las Vegas
Strip, it’s tough to obtain
advance FAA permission
to fly in the area, mainly
because of the abundance
of available helicopter
tours there. In fact, Las
Vegas uses sophisticated
drone-detection equipment
near the Strip to alert law
enforcement of potential
violations by those who fly
drones.
One of the unusual
aspects of Sunday’s Super
Bowl was the sports bet-
tors, who were throwing
down money to guess what
shade of red lipstick Taylor
Swift would wear to the
big game. Maybe those
sport-apps operators also
should’ve offered a wager
on how many drones would
be caught by law enforce-
ment around the stadium
before the game on Sun-
day.
game, just as my song says,
“Shake it Off!”
imposed new drone regula-
tions without considering
the people who actually fly
them professionally. The
ban prohibits using federal
funds to pay for drones
made in certain foreign
countries, especially China.
* * *
According to the FAA
and NFL, more than 4,000
illegal drone flights around
stadiums occurred in 2023,
a 20 percent increase over
the previous year.
Drone experts say safety
is crucial in places where
tens of thousands of people
gather together for an
event. Should a drone en-
counter a problem with its
battery, propellors or other
systems, it could plummet
from the sky and poten-
tially harm or kill people.
Last fall, Fox Sports used
small drones (with permis-
sion) as part of its coverage
of the World Series. The
NFL hires drone operators
to film practices or parts of
documentaries. So do some
other pro sports organiza-
tions around the globe. In
other words, drones aren’t
Here’s where the story hit
home for me since then. In
nearby Boulder, the police
department has a 10-per-
son drone response team.
The officers have a fleet of
eight drones, ranging in
price from about $1,500
to more than $10,000. All
happen to be DJI-brand
drones from China, now
on the blackballed foreign
manufacturers’ list.
Just over two weeks ago,
the NFL AFC champion-
ship game in Baltimore
was halted because a mini
drone was spotted fly-
ing over the stadium. The
owner was a Pennsylvania
guy who bought the drone
the day before the game
and told authorities he
didn’t know he couldn’t
operate it over the packed
stadium. The 44-year-old
man wasn’t a Part 107-cer-
tified pilot, nor was his
drone registered with the
FAA.
My suggestion: The NFL
and FAA should ask Tay-
lor Swift to hold a small
drone for a TV commercial
so she can say, “A friendly
reminder… you can’t
fly a drone near an NFL
game! It’s against the law
and disrupts the players,
coaches, and fans like me.
So, if your head is thinking
about flying a drone near a
Second, Allegiant Sta-
dium, host of the Super
Bowl and home of the Las
Vegas Raiders, is a domed
stadium, so any drone flyer
hoping to shoot footage
Should any of these
drones need to be replaced
– due to age or an acci-
dent – the new laws would
prohibit the city from
purchasing new DJI mod-
els using federal funds. As I
said last week, without any
major U.S. manufactur-
ers creating drones, places
like Boulder will be left
empty-handed if they want
new DJI drones, which are
world-class, easy to operate
and priced reasonably.
If convicted, the man
faces a maximum of three
years in federal prison
and up to another year for
willfully violating United
States National Defense
Airspace in the area.
The Super Bowl annually
attracts the most wagering
of any American sporting
event—second internation-
ally to the FIFA World Cup
championship game.
(?) on four occasions, all in
the first half. This included
once in a replay of the
Chiefs’ second touchdown
(a two-yard run by Isiah
Pacheco on which Kelce
sealed off a would-be tack-
ler with a well-executed
block) and with 3:42 left
reaction of the world’s pop
icon to the performances
by two of music’s other
megastars.
And the shows of affection
after the Baltimore game
appeared to include Taylor
mouthing the words, “I
love you.”
1.5-point favorite. A few
days later, bettors had
made the 49ers the two-
point choice.
* * *
Prop Bet No. 3— Will
Travis propose to Taylor at
midfield after the game?
With Taylor watching in
person, the Chiefs beat Mi-
ami, Buffalo and Baltimore
to reach SB LVIII with a
14-6 record. San Francisco
is the top seed in the NFC
and, with playoff wins over
Green Bay and Detroit,
stands 14-5,
My choice: Quite a set-
ting, but this is HIS show,
if not his swan song. Their
“moment” would be over-
shadowed in the post-game
hoopla, especially if there’s
a Kansas City victory. Any-
thing’s possible, but I don’t
think so.
If Taylor Swift shows up
in Las Vegas this Sunday
to root for Travis Kelce and
the Chiefs in SB
LVIII, this Su-
per Bowl could
offer a whole
new dimension
of betting for a
whole new au-
dience—name-
ly, Swifties.
If you believe widespread
rumors, this could be the
last game of Kelce’s illus-
trious pro football career.
There’s also a report that
he popped the question on
New Year’s Eve, with plans
to announce their engage-
ment after the Super Bowl.
in the second
quarter as part
of a promo for
live coverage
of the Gram-
mys a week
later.
My choice: Taylor will be
there. Need I say more?
* * *
Who will win? Kansas
City opened as a slim
My choice:
If this is the
most-watched
SB ever be-
cause of her,
then take the
Over on this
one, too.
Senior Reporter
Some residents still don’t believe the iconic Albert Frei & Sons Wal-
strum quarry has been sold. To many of those residents and business
people around Clear Creek and Gilpin counties, they are still shaking
their heads in disbelief.
For them and others, the news surrounding the unexpected sale was
the equivalent of an unexpected heavy snowstorm or rainstorm arriving.
However, as the adage about clouds goes, there is something of a silver
lining to the story: Neither Albert Frei Jr. nor the people at the Wal-
strum Quarry along Highway 6 are going anywhere – at least, not for a
while.
Frei Jr., whose grandfather, Albert, started the aggregate and rock-
mining business more than 60 years ago in Commerce City. He said he
would continue to serve as a consultant to Martin Marietta Materials
for at least one year to ensure the local business has a smooth transition
as it becomes part of the vast MMM Inc. empire stretching across the
U.S., Canada, and the Bahamas. Martin Marietta, listed on the New York
Stock Exchange, is a U.S.-based supplier of building materials, includ-
ing aggregates, cement, mixed concrete, and asphalt, that operates in 28
states.
Al Frei Jr. said he plans to continue to be involved with burro races and the
Clear Creek Rotary Club in the future.
Well, ahead
of Super Bowl
Sunday, Swift’s
Eras Tour is
scheduled for
four concerts
at the Tokyo
Dome, Wednes-
day through Saturday.
SAVVY SENIOR
And laparoscopic
adjustable gastric
banding, which
inserts an inflatable
band that creates a
gastric pouch encir-
cling the top of the
stomach.
Dear Savvy Senior,
Does Medicare cover any weight-loss
treatments for overweight retirees? I
just turned 65 and need to lose about
100 pounds and would like to know if
Medicare can help.
(Expect bo-
nus post-game
cameos—and
maybe even
one of the
lovebirds hugging and
kissing, depending on the
outcome. There were two
of those after KC beat the
Ravens, plus two cutaways
to Taylor beaming proudly
during the trophy presenta-
tion.)
Overweight Owen
Dear Owen,
Yes, traditional Medicare does indeed
cover some weight-loss treatments like
counseling and certain types of surgery
for overweight beneficiaries, but unfor-
tunately, it doesn’t cover weight-loss
programs or medications. Here’s what
you should know.
The flight from Narita
International Airport to the
runway on Wayne New-
ton Boulevard is a little
more than 12 hours. But,
thanks to the International
Dateline, Taylor can arrive
Saturday night, well before
kickoff—unless there’s a
glitch.
What’s not cov-
ered
BY JIM MILLER
Unfortunately, original Medicare does
not cover weight-loss programs such
as fitness or gym memberships, meal
delivery services, or popular weight-loss
programs such as Jenny Craig, Noom
and WW (formerly Weight Watchers).
* * *
Prop Bet No. 1— Will
CBS feature an interview
with Taylor Swift as part
of its multi-hour pre-game
programming?
Who’s eligible
For beneficiaries to receive available
Medicare-covered weight-loss treat-
ments your body mass index (BMI),
which is an estimate of your body fat
based on your height and weight, must
be 30 or higher.
Here are some possi-
bilities and my suggested
plays:
Medicare also does not cover any
weight-loss drugs, but it does cover
FDA-approved diabetes drugs that have
unintentionally become very popular for
weight loss.
Over/Under— Will
this game break last year’s
record for largest television
audience?
There’s plenty to talk
about: Her relationship
with Travis . . . What’s in
their future. . . the 12-hour
flight from Japan . . . all the
attention and public fuss
over her budding romance .
. . and . . . and . . .
Medicare Part D plans cover Ozempic
and Mounjaro for diabetes only, not for
weight loss! So, your doctor will need to
prescribe these medications for diabetes
to get them covered.
A BMI of 30 or above is considered
obese and increases your risk for many
health conditions, such as some cancers,
coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes,
stroke and sleep apnea. To determine
your BMI, the National Institutes of
Health has a free calculator that you can
access online at nhlbi.nih.gov/health/
educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm.
When Kelce & Company
knocked off Philadelphia,
115.1 million pairs of eye-
balls watched (according
to those who measure such
things), topping the previ-
ous record set in 2015 by
almost 700,000. (There’s
been no suggestion that
Taylor’s Baby Blues were
among them last Febru-
ary.)
Medicare also does not cover Wegovy
or Zepbound because they’re approved
only for weight loss.
My choice: If she’ll
agree to do it, I can’t imag-
ine the network passing up
the chance. But will she?
I’d say she won’t want to
upstage her beau, so I’d bet
No.
The reason behind the weight-loss
drug omission is the Medicare Mod-
ernization Act, which specifically
excluded them back when the law was
written 20 years ago. They also ex-
cluded drugs used for cosmetic pur-
poses, fertility, hair growth and erectile
dysfunction.
What’s covered
If you find that your BMI is 30 or
higher, Medicare Part B will cover up
to 12 months of weight-loss counseling
conducted by a medical professional in
a primary care setting (like a doctor’s
office).
* * *
Prop Bet No. 2— Will
Taylor Swift be shown
on TV during either the
national anthem or the
halftime show?
My choice: With Swift-
ies tuning-in to once again
catch glimpses of their idol,
take the Over.
Weight-loss medications are expen-
sive without insurance, often costing
$1,000 to $1,300 a month. To help
curb costs, try websites like GoodRX.
com or SingleCare.com to find the best
retail prices in your area. Or, if your
income is limited, try patient assistance
programs through Eli Lilly ( LillyCares.
com ) which makes Mounjaro and Zep-
bound, or Novo Nordisk ( NovoCare.
com ) the maker of Ozempic and We-
govy.
Most counseling sessions entail an ini-
tial obesity screening, a dietary assess-
ment and behavioral therapy designed to
help you lose weight by focusing on diet
and exercise.
* * *
Another Over/Un-
der— Will CBS show Tay-
lor more or fewer than six
times between kickoff and
0:00?
Reba McEntire, called the
“Queen of Country,” will
sing The Star-Spangled
Banner , and Usher, her-
alded as the “King of R&B,”
will be the star of intermis-
sion.
Medicare also covers certain types
of bariatric and metabolic surgery for
morbidly obese beneficiaries who have a
BMI of 35 or above and have at least one
underlying obesity-related health condi-
tion, such as diabetes or heart disease.
You must also show that you’ve tried to
lose weight in the past through dieting
or exercise and have been unsuccessful.
In the American Football
Conference Championship
Game Sunday before last,
the same network cut away
to the future Mrs. Kelce
My choice: Of course, a
resounding Yes! Who could
pass up checking on the
Medicare Advantage
If you happen to be enrolled in a pri-
vate Medicare Advantage plan, you may
have coverage for gym memberships
and some weight loss and healthy food
delivery programs. These are consid-
ered expanded supplemental benefits
and have gradually been added to some
plans to provide coverage for nutrition,
health and wellness. Contact your plan
to see what it provides.
These procedures change your diges-
tive system to help you lose weight and
improve the health of your metabolism.
Some common bariatric surgical
procedures covered include Roux-en-Y
gastric bypass surgery, which reduces
the stomach to a small pouch that makes
you feel full even following small meals.
Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
structure along Church Street that offers some
of the city’s best views.
school, there are state-of-the-art technologies
and a dedicated staff who works to serve and
protect people 24/7/365.
Senior Reporter
However, what’s inside the stately building
is vital to the 100 residents and thousands of
visitors who arrive in town daily. What many
people don’t realize is that inside the old
From the valley below, the old school build-
ing on the hill in Black Hawk has been standing
for generations. It’s a serene-looking historic
Recently completed renovations inside the
Black Hawk Police Department encompassed
three-fourths of the first floor and the detec-
tives’ area upstairs, according to City Manager
Stephen Cole. He estimated the remodeling
cost $1.081 million plus another $435,136 for
additional equipment and furniture.
